Author's Note: And now, by popular demand, the next chapter! But seriously guys…I really appreciate all the nice stuff you've been reviewing about me and my story…touches my heart without sounding too mushy :) So I give you lots or virtual hugs and blow some virtual kisses and you may all have a virtual cookie. But just one per customer cause I only have so many. Ok so enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 46 – You Can Never Be Too Careful

Silence. Sara felt the tears come down slowly. She could almost smell Catherine's sheer terror over the phone and it chilled her right to the bones. She looked at Nick. His eyes were as wide as dinner plates again. He didn't know and he had just overheard her. Their eyes locked a second and time and they both stood still as they both realized the severity of the situation. Then they both sprang to life. Nick got into the car the same time Sara did.

"Cath?" Sara whispered. She didn't know whether or not she was still there.

"Sh-she's…she's…" a small mouse-like, unrecognizable voice spoke in Sara's ear. Sara was still crying. Nick started the car and screeched away from the curb.

"Cath, where are you? Do you want us to come and pick you up?" Sara asked, trying to keep her voice level.

Catherine sniffed. She wasn't crying and Sara assumed she was in shock. "I…I don't know. Umm…I'm on Fremont Street. Come pick me up…Warrick and Grissom are here." Her voice was monotone which, in Sara's opinion, was much worse the crying.

"Ok, Nick and I are coming. Just wait outside for me. I'll call Brass. Tell him what's going on."

"…Ok…" she seemed to be off in her own little world.

"Ok. Bye, Cath." Sara hung up and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Nick was driving uncomfortably fast but Sara didn't care.

"Mommy?" Charlotte piped up from the back seat.

"Yes, pumpkin?" Sara had almost forgotten she was there.

"Why did you take me out of school?" Sara could tell Charlotte knew something was wrong. Her voice was a little shaky and Sara suspected she might end up in tears no matter what she said. She also knew she couldn't lie to her, but also didn't want to scare her. She thought a moment, choosing her words carefully. Sara turned in her seat to look at her.

"Mommy found out today that there is someone…a bad man…has gotten out of jail. I just wanted you to be safe with me."

"But if he's a bad man then how did he get out of jail?"

Good question.

"Well…it was kind of a mistake that he got out." Sara glanced at Nick. He was paying close attention to the road but Sara could tell he was listening.

"Oh." Charlotte looked down at her feet. Sara could see she was thinking about something. "And Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"I thought you said Lindsay was coming with us."

Shit.

"Lindsay was going to come with us, but I found out that Lindsay wasn't at school anymore. But we are going to find her now, ok?"

Charlotte nodded. Sara couldn't tell if she had put it together that the 'man from jail' had taken Lindsay. "Is she ok?" she asked suddenly after a few seconds. Her voice was shakier.

"I…I don't know. That's what we are trying to find out." Sara was close to tears herself and turned back around in her seat, closing her eyes, trying to stop them. After gaining control of her emotions she pressed four and send on her phone.

"Brass," came his gruff voice, edged with an unusual tension.

"Brass, we have a problem." Sara told Brass about Lindsay and hung up with him just as Nick screeched around the corner, onto Freemont Street. He went as fast as he could down the street and screeched to a halt in front of a casino where Catherine was waiting at the curb. Sara jumped out before the car had completely stopped and took the obviously distraught woman's hand.

"Are you ok?" she asked quietly.

Catherine nodded and Sara motioned for her to get into the front seat. Sara hopped into the back with Charlotte. Brass had said that he was sending a few uniforms to Lindsay's school to investigate. He said he would all Grissom and get some CSIs out there too. Nick headed for the lab. He knew Grissom wouldn't put Catherine on the case but he also knew she probably wouldn't stay at home for very long if he dropped her off there.

As soon as they got there, Judy, the receptionist, told Catherine a man had dropped off a letter with her. Sara and Nick looked at each other. "Oh Boy," Sara thought. She had Charlotte's hand in hers and she decided to take her to the break room. Sara didn't want her to see this.

In the break room Greg was sitting there drinking coffee. He had his feet on the table and was reading a magazine. When Sara and Charlotte walked in he looked a little confused.

"And who is his little cutie?" he asked, sitting down properly in his chair.

Charlotte played shy and moved behind Sara's leg. Sara let out a little smile. "Her name is Charlotte."

"Hello Charlotte," Greg said with a smile. "She yours?" Greg asked Sara.

Sara rolled her eyes. "No, Greg, I bring random children in off the streets. Of coarse she's mine." She walked over to the mini fridge and pulled out a juice and a straw.

"Don't need to get testy," Greg said, holding up his hands in surrender.

Sara closed her eyes and took a breath. "I'm sorry. Just a little on edge." She put the juice on the table and told Charlotte to sit. She sat and Sara opened the juice for her.

"That's ok," Greg said. "Anything I can help you with?"

Sara sighed again. "You heard about George?"

Greg shook his head. "He got out," she explained.

"Wha-" Greg tried to stand up but his legs got tangled in the chair and it flew back, sending Greg off balance. He nearly fell but caught himself before he went down. Charlotte giggled.

"He's out?! How can he be out?"

Sara told him to be quiet. "I think Catherine just got another note from him."

"Another note?!"

"Yes, Greg, be quiet." That's when Charlotte pulled on Sara's shirt. She looked down.

"Is that the bad man you told me about?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Sara nodded. "Did he do something to Lindsay?"

Sara hesitated then nodded again.

"Wow," Greg asked quietly. He turned around and ran a hand through his spiky hair.

Catherine and Nick walked in a moment later. Well, Catherine didn't exactly walk in; Nick was holding her up. He sat her down on the couch and kneeled at her feet saying her name softly. Catherine was crying silently, holding her face in her hands. Sara ran over, kneeling beside Nick. Catherine still had the opened envelope in her hand and Sara asked quietly, "What did it say?"

Catharine gave it to her and she sniffed. Sara held onto it by the corner and opened it, trying not to touch it. There hadn't been any prints from the other letters but she couldn't be too careful. She and Nick read it together.

'Dear Catherine,

Long time no see. I'm sure you remember me. It's been awhile…ever since you put me in jail they haven't let me send any letters to you. I've missed you. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but you betrayed me. I protected you! I was your protector and you still had the nerve to put me in jail. Everything has a price, my dear Catherine, and you will have to pay the price for that. It was a very foolish thing for you to do. Very foolish indeed. You are a hard woman to get a hold of, my dear, but your daughter is not. She, like you, is an excellent piece of work. She is beautiful. She is…the perfect price to pay. I'm sure you know by now, that she is with me. She is safe with me…but you can get her back. Maybe. Patience is a beautiful thing, and if you will use a little bit of it, you could see your daughter again. I'm sure your exploding to see her, but just wait a while…just a little while…

Goodbye for now.'

Sara's mouth dropped. She had thought he was a little nuts when she first met him, but now she knew he was completely and irretrievably insane. She looked at Catherine and then at Nick. What were they supposed to do now?

"This isn't happening," Catherine said quietly. "This can't be happening."

Sara got Catherine a glass of water and Nick ran the letter down to QD. They probably wouldn't even be able to do much with it, but you could never be too careful.